N.S. Loyal Books: A new chapter in supporting local publishers

A month after its introduction, local bookstore owners say the Nova Scotia Loyal book industry pilot program has boosted sales in small and indie bookstores across the province.

The Nova Scotia Loyal program launched in July 2023, with the book program begun this past October. The program also offers discounts for Nova Scotia-produced alcohol and food products.

Through the program, the government provided a $10 coupon to be applied against select books by Nova Scotia authors and publishers. The coupons were given to 11 participating bookstores across Nova Scotia.

Good Dog Books in Bridgewater, which received about 400 vouchers, reported increased sales.

“It’s nice that they decided to expand the Nova Scotia Loyal Program to cover books,” said Tyler Leblanc, the store’s co-owner and manager.

“The publishing industry is a really important part of what our province has to offer to the world. And I am glad that they see that.”

The first shop to be selected for the program was Open Book Coffee in Halifax. With a café operating alongside the bookstore, about one-third of their income comes from book sales.

Joe Tinney, the shop’s owner-operator, says they were approached by their adjoining neighbours at Nimbus Publishing to participate in N.S. Loyal Books. He said that anything that can help the community is “easy (for him) to get behind.”

“The benefit of that is hard to quantify,” Tinney said.

Open Book Coffee was given about 100 vouchers — they have none left and are waiting for the government to send more.

Tinney says the program has improved sales at the shop and brought in more people than usual.

“I mean, everybody likes to save money,” he said. “It’s like finding $10 on the floor”

Allison Murray is the general manager and book-buyer for Carrefour Atlantic Emporium in Halifax. Carrefour focuses only on local authors, and most of the shop’s 1,600 titles included in the list of books eligible for the discount are on their shelves.

Murray said the store was originally given around 250 vouchers, and they have used about 125 of them so far. She said sales have been slightly higher than usual for November.

“I think it’s encouraged people to perhaps get a second book they wouldn’t have before,” Murray said.

The pilot program will run until Feb. 28.